Metropolitan Briefs

Local officials of South Brunswick Township in New Jersey were given assurances by David J. Bardin, the State Commissioner of Environmental Protection, that the 2,600acre. Pigeon Swamp tract, a natural preserve and water source here, “will not be put to any other use” than as natural preserve for future generations.

Two million dollars have been appropriated to acquire and preserve the swamp under the Green Acres program, but various litigations have held up final approval and expenditure of the money. Fears have been expressed that the natural resource may fall to commercial uses in the fastgrowing residential area of Middlesex County.

Cross and Cash Stolen From Church

Thieves broke into St. Demitrios Greek Orthodox Church at 3011 30th Drive, Astoria, Queens, during the night and fled with a gold altar cross valued at $500 and an unknown amount of money from the church's poor boxes. The Rev. John Poulos the pastor, said the thieves apparently entered through a side door sometime between 10:30 P.M. Thursday when the church was closed for the night, and 6:15 A.M. yesterday. Crowds passed through the church yesterday to mark Good Friday the most solemn day of the Greek Orthodox liturgical calendar.

Political Role for U.S. Workers Urged

Leaders of Federal and postal workers unions urged Congress yesterday to ease the restrictions imposed by the Hatch Act on the political activities of their workers. They told a hearing of the House of Representatives subcommittee on employe political rights that the act made secondclass citizens of 3 million Federal and postal employes and, in the words of one of the leaders, was “as contemporary as the covered wagon.”

The hearing, at the United States District Courthouse in Brooklyn, was on a bill sponsored by Representative William L. Clay, Democrat of Missouri and chairman of the subcommittee, and other Representatives. The bill, Mr. Clay said, was designed “to restore to Federal civilian employes their right to participate, as private citizens, in the political life of the nation.”

From the Police Blotter:

A man was stabbed to death and a woman was stabbed and seriously injured in a dispute at the woman's apartment at 559 West 191st Street. The man was identified as Juan Echavarfa, 23, of 2639 Jerome Avenue, the Bronx. The police gave the woman's name as Maria Garcia Gonzalez. 23, and said they were looking for her commonlaw husband, Taylor Gomez, 22. A 20‐year‐old man stabbed and seriously wounded his parents in their apartment at 125 West 168th Street, the Bronx. The police said they arrested the son, Gregory Clement, 20. The parents were identified as Steadman Clement, 56, and his wife, Gloria, Three men were shot and a fourth man was stabbed when an argument erupted last night during a pool game s crowded, oneroom club at 4286 Park Avenue, near East 178th Street, in the Tremont section of the Bronx. Witnesses and the victims were being questioned early today about the identities of the assailants and the cause of the shootNone of the wounded was reported in serious condition at ??? Hospital.

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